Author's Note: Well, a reviewer asked a very valid question and my answer is this: yes, there are demons in this fanfiction. I meant to say that before but I never got around to it. (Buries her face in her hands) Eep! Don't hurt me! (Summons her Ultimate Shield of Furry Kittens to protect her) On with the story!

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Kagome's breath hitched in her throat upon hearing Sesshomaru ask for her hand in marriage. This couldn't be happening to her! Her hands clutched her blankets tightly and her head bowed as Sesshomaru stood at her side.

"Sesshomaru," Kagome whispered. "I don't know what to say."
"I understand," Sesshomaru said and to his surprise he felt a tug at his heart as he assumed that she had rejected his proposal. He did not know why he felt the way he did for she was merely the widowed wife of his brother.

"Give me three days to think about it and on the third day I will give you my answer," Kagome explained softly. Sesshomaru seemed satisfied this answer and departed without a second word. As he shut the door behind him Kagome exhaled a sigh of relief and collapsed back on her bed so that her head was resting on the pillow. 'What am I going to do?' Kagome wondered with a frown. 'If I marry Sesshomaru then it will be like betraying Inuyasha. But if I don't marry Sesshomaru then I'll be alone all my life.' Both decisions did not seem appealing to her but she knew that she had three days to ponder and decide on her answer. Rolling onto her side and staring blankly at the wall Kagome fell into a deep but restless slumber dreaming of what life would be if she married Sesshomaru.

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When Kagome awoke next she noticed a thin string of light entering through the black cloth curtains over her window. She left her bed and moved to the door when someone knocked. She turned quickly and ran behind the changing curtain to put a petticoat and corset on over her night shift. Before she could answer the door it opened and in walked a tall young man with light colored hair dancing in his face which was still youthful.
"Souta!" Kagome cried with genuine happiness in her voice. Realizing that she was dressed indecently to accept visitors she hastily threw on a black gown and made do with how it fitted since Sango was not there to dress her. As she returned to where Souta stood she noticed that he had been surveying the state of her room which was now doubly decked in mourning.

"I'm so sorry that I haven't kept in touch," Souta apologized with a bow to his sister. She dismissed his apology with a wave of her hand and motioned for him to take a seat. She sat across from him with her hands folded in her lap.
"It's all right Souta," Kagome said finally. "It would not have been a suitable time to visit anyway. Did the news reach you of my father in law's death?" Souta blinked twice before shaking his head.
"No, this is the first that I've heard about it. If there is anything that I can do, anything at all, please don't hesitate to let me know." She smiled sadly and looked down at her hands.
"Inutaisho's eldest son proposed to me last night."

"Inuyasha's brother?"
"The same." Souta scratched the back of his head overcome by the recent occurrences.

"Well, are you going to accept his offer?" Kagome turned her head away to stare at the curtain clad window nearby.
"I'm not sure Souta," she replied honestly. "I could always use the excuse that I need time in order to come up with a dowry." Souta stroked his chin in thought at this. 'Yes, what am I going to give for a dowry for my sister? And would Sesshomaru even want a dowry considering that this marriage is vital to the future of his family name?'

"That might work Kagome," Souta said to her. "In the meantime, I will begin to save up enough to give you a suitable dowry." Kagome shook her head and raised a hand in protest.

"No, I did not even bring a dowry to my first marriage. I am not positive if this plan will work. After all, this marriage is necessary and vital. If we wait for a dowry another misfortune could befall us and ruin the plan for good. No, Souta, I shall do without a dowry and accept Sesshomaru's offer."

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Sesshomaru sat inside his father's study running his fingers over the massive books that stood inside the numerous bookcases. He had fond memories of the room he sat in now, memories of his father's good heart. Sesshomaru felt his heart soften at the memories but then shook his head violently ridding him of the feelings of good will. He could remember that as a child he would sit in the chair beside his father's reading the books his father gave to him for him to study. True, his childhood had not been average. For example, when other children were out flying kites and playing dolls Sesshomaru sat in his father's library studying ancient and dead languages with his father hovering over his shoulder making sure he did not daydream. A knock at the door stirred Sesshomaru from his reverie causing him to jump slightly something he did not usually do.

"Enter," Sesshomaru said as he leaned back in his chair. The door opened with a creak and Kagome stepped inside shutting the door behind her as she did so. She sank into a deep curtsy with her head dipped and tilted to the side. She rose to her feet and looked Sesshomaru in the eyes.
"I have come to give you my answer," Kagome said quietly and she seemed hesitant to even take a breath. He seemed keen to hear what she had to say and rested his chin on his hand staring at her through cool golden orbs.

"Well, you still have two days left but I am listening," Sesshomaru replied. "But do not stand there. Please, have a seat." He beckoned to the empty chair before the desk and Kagome slowly sat down on the comfortable upholstery. The room was dim with lack of lighting and she felt a chill in the air that unnerved her.

"I have decided to accept your proposal. However, we must wait until my mourning period is over or until my brother manages to deliver a suitable dowry." Sesshomaru waved off the idea of a dowry and calmly leaned back.
"I have no wish for a dowry Kagome. It would serve no purpose for the situation of my family name is dire and a prolonged wait would do me no service."
"Then we will wait for my mourning period to end," Kagome suggested and her tone became a little high as if she were hopeful.

"There is no guarantee of any of our lives between this moment and two years from now. No, Lady Kagome, now that you have agreed to be my bride I must insist that we marry as soon as possible." Kagome nearly gasped at the relaxed tone of voice that he used to talk about such a tense situation. It was as if he were enjoying tormenting her. But Kagome composed herself, stood, and left the room without another word. Sesshomaru watched her leave and shook his head. Why was he so eager to marry that woman? With that thought in mind Sesshomaru decided to pay a visit to Inuyasha's grave in order to form the young man of the recent developments although he was pretty positive that somehow Inuyasha already knew.

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The cold wind bit at Sesshomaru from all sides as he traveled up the hill towards the large monument marking Inuyasha's burial site. Pulling his thick evening coat tighter around his body Sesshomaru continued up the incline to his destination. Upon reaching it he knelt on the semi frozen ground with his hand touching the still frosty earth below.

"I am sure that by now our father has joined you in the realms above.

"Because his untimely death left the family name rather open for destruction and also because I have no time to court a woman, I have asked for your Kagome's hand in marriage. Surprisingly she accepted my offer and we are to be married as soon as possible." Sesshomaru rose to his feet and turned to go when a vicious wind swept towards him shoving him forward less than gently. He managed to catch himself before he fell and turned in the direction from where the wind came to glare at whom so ever had been bold enough to push him. But to his surprise he found no on there and an eerie feeling crept in the pit of his stomach. He cast one long, hard look at his brother's grave before traveling down the hill to where his horse stood grazing.

As he approached his horse he could not help but ponder the mysterious shove he had received upon leaving Inuyasha's grave. 'Could Inuyasha be upset by the news of Kagome becoming engaged to me and thus he sent his spirit to attack me in malice? No, that is impossible. Inuyasha is dead and buried not sending out messengers to attack me out of spite. However I cannot help but wonder why the wind felt as if hands were pushing me down.' He threw his right leg over the back of the horse and pulled himself up so that he was sitting down with his hands clutching the reins tightly. Sesshomaru cast a wary glance in the direction of Inuyasha's grave but did not study it as he usually would do with anything or anyone else.

The ride home was spent in the chilly wind and overcast skies above. Sesshomaru's long silver hair flowed down his back in ripples and moved from side to side with each trot the horse gave. He reached into his saddlebag and noticed that he still had his father's wrinkled letter to him that he had written years ago to his son on Sesshomaru's eighteenth birthday. The letter basically stated how proud Inutaisho was of Sesshomaru now that he was a mature adult with plans of the future that concerned only his immediate family. The letter was dated three weeks before Inuyasha had married Kagome back when Inuyasha had been on military leave. Sesshomaru should have joined the war but he was his father's heir and he could not risk losing his life. So, Inuyasha went to battle in the name of the family because the family was not depending on Inuyasha's survival. Many an argument had erupted during the last few weeks before Inuyasha's death. Inuyasha wanted to return to the front as soon as he could but Inutaisho had other plans for him plans that Inuyasha was not eager to accept. He wasn't ready to become a father and he knew for sure that Kagome was not ready to give birth to a child. Once Inutaisho gave up on trying to persuade his youngest son to stay home Inuyasha left without a second thought not even taking the time to say goodbye to Kagome and that was to be the biggest mistake of his short life.

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Sesshomaru was shaken from his memories by the horse's hooves pounding on the ground. He looked up only to see that while he was day dreaming his horse had found its way back home. Sesshomaru dismounted and walked to the front doors where he was promptly let in by the family butler a young man named Shippo.
"There is a man here to see you Lord Sesshomaru," a maid said as she entered the atrium and bowed to her master. A slender, silver eyebrow arched high above his golden eyes.
"Oh, and who might my visitor be?" The maid shook her head and her short raven locks danced along the pale contours of her face.
"He did not give a name milord. He merely asked to see you and said that it was quite urgent that he spoke with you." Frustrated Sesshomaru walked down the hall towards the parlor where visitors were entertained. A tall man with long dark hair and piercing crimson eyes turned and looked at Sesshomaru with a smirk that didn't seem soothing in the least.

"May I help you," asked Sesshomaru of the man with an emotionless mask set on his face.

"I am Onigumo Naraku, of the Onigumo clan," the man stated as he found his way to a chair in the room. Sesshomaru chose to lean against the wall and glare at the man.
"What business do you have here?"
"I have come to call and pay my respects to your father's name," said Naraku smoothly.

"I do not mean to be rude but if that is all you have come to say then I must ask you to leave. I am not yet ready to accept visitors," Sesshomaru stated knowing deep down inside that he could not trust this man.
"Of course," Naraku agreed with a slight bow. "I should not have intruded upon your family during such a tragic time. If you will excuse me." He swept out of the room leaving behind a cold air in his wake. Sesshomaru kneaded at his temples which now ached something fierce. He departed from the room and ascended the stairway only to come face to face with Kagome whose face seemed a bit more pale than usual.
"What troubles you Kagome," inquired Sesshomaru as he approached her. She held out a note with her trembling hand and Sesshomaru took it from her to scan the contents. Upon finishing the note his eyes narrowed and his whole body began to shake with anger. His head snapped up and he looked Kagome firmly in the eyes as he crumpled the paper in his fist and threw it to the ground.
"Kagome," Sesshomaru began in a slow, calm voice, "we marry tomorrow." Kagome's stomach did a large 360 degree turn and her hand raced to her throat where she usually wore her rosary but the said item was not there for wearing jewelry during the mourning process was seen as disrespectful. A light sweat broke out above her brow and she gave a quivering smile while standing at the top of the stairs.
"As you wish," Kagome whispered. She then turned and retreated to her quarters where she would spend the rest of the night in silent solitude.